Hello, Hoehn1430, and welcome to Psych Central! I can understand why you would be concerned about your illnesses and the impact they have on your family. Sounds like you are coping well. Do you mean you spend all your time concentrating on your children and that helps you to forget your problems?

Of course, just because they will be gone for part of the day does not mean that you will no longer have a major role in their lives. You will still be shopping for them, feeding them breakfast and dinner, doing household chores like washing their clothes, anticipating their needs, etc.

Okay, now a bit more free time! What are any hobbies and interests you have? Now you can get more into them. Reading, writing, crafts, games, sports, sewing, watching a soap opera....the limits hardly exist.

Take a class at the local college, go to the library, head to the local coffee shop or mall. Reach out to clubs and organizations. They are always looking for volunteers. Get together with some friends. Get involved here, in social groups, etc.

Hope some if these ideas will prime the pump. You might find that they will start coming back home after school, and you will wonder where the time went.